How to Send an eCard

Sending an animated card takes a few minutes and needs nothing more than the person’s first name and either their email address or a way to message them. This guide walks through each step on Paper Lantern, shows what your recipient will see when the card arrives, and explains how anyone can tell that a card from us is genuine.

How to send an ecard, step by step

1. Choose a card

Browse the shelves by occasion (Christmas, New Year, winter birthdays) or by country in Cards from home, where each card carries its greeting in the language of the place. Open any card to watch it move: snow falling, windows glowing, smoke rising from the chimney. When you find the one you want, choose it to start writing.

2. Write your card

The writing page shows the card on one side and the form on the other, so you can see exactly what your recipient will see as you type.

• Greeting: choose Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas or Season’s Greetings.
• Their name: the name they’ll see on the envelope and at the top of the card, such as “Aunt Rose”.
• Their email: where the card should go, if we’re delivering it for you.
• Your message: up to 400 characters, about four or five short sentences. If you’re stuck, our ideas for what to say, step by step can help.
• Signed: how you sign off, for example “Michael and family”.

Under the preview, “Play the opening” shows the envelope opening just as it will for them.

3. Choose when it should arrive

Under “When should it arrive?”, pick Straight away or On a date, and choose the day from the calendar. A scheduled card waits with us until then. Until it goes out, you can still cancel it.

Before you go on, tick “I am 18 or over”. Senders need to be adults; we don’t ask anything about your recipient’s age.

4. Send it

Check the preview one last time, then send. You’ll see the price of the card before you pay, and nothing renews unless you choose it; our prices page has the details.

Sending by email or by text and WhatsApp

By email. We send your card to the address you gave, on the day you chose. The email comes from your name “via Paper Lantern”, so your recipient knows at once who it’s from. Email usually arrives quickly, but not always: if you’re sending close to Christmas, let them know a card is on its way, and to look in their spam or promotions folder if it doesn’t show up.

By text or WhatsApp. If you’d rather send it yourself, copy the card’s link and paste it into a text message, a WhatsApp chat or anywhere else you talk. The card opens in their phone’s browser, with no app to install. This is a good choice for relatives who seldom check their email, or when you want your own words around the link.

What your recipient sees

The email. The subject line is simply “Michael sent you a card” (with your name, of course). Inside there is the link to the card, your name, a short note explaining why they received it, and a link to stop receiving cards through Paper Lantern. That’s all. There are no ads, offers or “make your own” buttons in the email: it is your card, not our marketing.

The envelope. The link opens on a sealed envelope addressed to them, “For Aunt Rose, from Michael and family”, with the date stamped in the corner. A line underneath reads “Touch the seal to open.”

The card. When they touch the seal, the envelope opens and the painting comes alive. Your greeting, message and signature appear in plain text beside the scene, so they are easy to read on a small screen. A Stop the snow button pauses the animation at any time, and if their device is set to reduce motion, the card moves more gently, with the busier effects left out. “Close the envelope” folds it away again.

Below the card. A small line, “Sent with Paper Lantern · Make your own card”, and three links: “Why did I get this?”, “Never receive cards again” and “Report this card”. Your recipient doesn’t need an account, doesn’t have to fill anything in, and isn’t asked to reply on the site.

Staying safe: how to recognize a genuine card

Fake “you’ve received a greeting card” emails have been used to trick people for years, so it is sensible to be careful. A real Paper Lantern card always:

• shows the sender’s name followed by “via Paper Lantern”, and is sent from our own domain;
• links only to our own website, never through a link shortener or another address;
• opens straight in the browser, with nothing to download and no attachment;
• never asks for a password, payment, bank details or any personal information to see the card.

If something doesn’t match, don’t click. Ask the sender another way, by phone or text, whether they sent you a card. Our page for anyone who has received a card from Paper Lantern explains what a genuine card looks like, why the email reached you and how to stop further cards. If a card itself is upsetting or inappropriate, the “Report this card” link under it comes straight to us.

Questions

Does my recipient need an account or an app?

No. The card opens in any web browser, on a phone, tablet or computer.

Can I add a photo?

No. Each card is built around its painting, and your own words go beside it. There is no photo upload.

Can I see the card before I send it?

Yes. The preview on the writing page is exactly what they will see, and “Play the opening” shows the envelope opening.

What is the best time to send a Christmas ecard?

Whenever suits you, since it doesn’t depend on the mail. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself are both lovely choices; our guide on timing your Christmas cards covers paper cards too.

What happens to my recipient’s email address?

We use it only to deliver your card. It isn’t used for marketing, and it is deleted soon after the card has been delivered.

Ready to choose? Browse the Christmas cards and find the scene that suits them.